14807 Millstream Way,
Tampa, FL 33613 email
A Creative and self
motivated individual with nearly 50 years of progressive experience in
electronic, software and system design, specializing in products related to
Electric Utility automation, supervisory, and SCADA equipment.
Positions
considered
Product or system design, R & D, or
system support. Private consulting and permanent positions considered. Casual
unpretentious environments appreciated. Team spirit expected. Home based work
preferred when practical. Professional and personal references available on
request.
Skills
o Embedded Systems design in C, C++, assembler if necessary. Proficient in accomplishing a great deal in small systems with limited memory and system resources. Low level CPU experience includes Motorola 68xxx and Intel 8051 through 80386 embedded, older 6502 & Z80, Dallas 80C320, and various PIC Micro-controller chips.
o Windows application coding (Microsoft VC++/MFC), in applications ranging from communication drivers to Substation Automation systems. Additional recent experience building communication drivers in JAVA
o Expertise in software implementation of communication protocols such as MODBUS, DNP, SEL Fast Metering, and many bit oriented SCADA protocols, including serial and TCP/IP variations.
o Electronic Design, including analog, digital, and mixed signal systems with (or without) MCUs, including PC board layout and fabrication techniques, and prototyping. Specific abilities in design related to data Concentrators, protocol drivers, and IED support devices used by Electric utility companies.
o Superior troubleshooting skills, especially problems involving serial and network communications. Able to isolate problems in complex systems and provide solutions. I have designed software based diagnostic subsystems to help customers solve their own problems. Also have performed chip level electronic repair.
o Excellent technical writing ability, particularly as it applies to Product Documentation and instructional materials. Solid communication skills, both written and verbal.
o Microsoft Office suite tools including MS Word, Publisher, Access, and Excel. Also, various electronic design SCAD programs, Visio, Photoshop, Paintshop, and various tools for drawing and interacting with graphics.
o Web design experience, including HTML/XML, CSS, and JavaScript. Pioneered development of web based HMIs and industrial controls.
o Helpful personality and enjoyable to work with. Talent for explaining complex systems both to lay people and engineers. Ability to put stressed customers at ease. I also make it my business to maintain well commented source code and project files, and openly share techniques with customers and co-workers alike.
Professional Experience and History
Serveron Corp / BPL Global. Offices,
Beaverton Oregon, Columbus Ohio, Others
Sr. Systems Engineer 2007
- 2014
I, along with partners from “Plan-B” (see below) were acquired, along with our Substation Automation products, by Serveron Corp., who themselves were acquired by BPL global. My responsibilities include:
o Continued software and driver development and support for the SA system
o support for continued electronic design and enhancement of the SA related hardware.
o IED communication driver development via the JAVA platform for BPL’s “Power SG”, a Smartgrid product.
o Creating various special purpose protocol converter solutions, often within embedded controllers, for various product add-ons.
Plan B Solutions, LLC Partnership,
offices Tampa, FL
Software, embedded systems, electronic design 2005-2007
At Plan B, we implemented a major Substation Automation
contract with LADWP involving over 150 substations, which a previous employer
failed to fulfill. There I was also the lead engineer tasked with developing
our own next generation SA system. My responsibilities included.
o
Continuing
a rollout of the contracted SA systems for LADWP in partnership with a
California based company called Inspiria, at an electrical manufacturing
facility in California. This mainly included configuration and point testing,
SAT and FAT tests, software problem correction, and assisting LADWP with
installation issues and troubleshooting.
o
Major
development of next generation SA system fell to me. This included
Microcontroller selection for our new modules, internal communication system,
electronic design of required PC boards and backplane, the operating system,
application templates, multiple IED communication drivers and protocol
translators, and preparation of system documentation so other engineers could
continue development.
TASNET Inc. , System Integration Pinellas
Park, Florida
Software Engineer, Electronic Design 1995 –
2004
Developed software applications for
small embedded devices called network interface modules (NIMs), as part of a SA
package, and also designed electronic products where necessary to meet customer
requirements. Responsibilities
included:
o
Coding
of driver applications in ‘C’, customized for specific IEDs or protocols. Tasks included
real time data acquisition, automated fault records retrieval, providing
control via SCADA or HMI links, and
remote access to IEDs, via
service called “loopthrough”. I personally developed such drivers for over 30
devices with many protocols. While many
capabilities of this SA system are common today, it is significant that TASNET
was an early pioneer of such Substation Automation technology, and a leader in
the field for many years.
o
Developed
various customer specific electronic products, including all phases of circuit
design, PC layout, prototyping and where applicable, embedded MCU coding.
o
Developed
Windows based software for system support and the configuration of various products.
o
Prepared
and maintained both product documentation and
training materials for new programmers.
o Customer support.
Consolidated Edison Electric Company New York,
New York
Sr. Engineering Technician, Energy Control Center 1974-1994
o
Software
and electronic system design and implementation in areas related to automated
electronic troubleshooting.
o
Developed
powerful data acquisition and graphic display systems to directly replace walls
of mechanical chart recorders. Custom graphics and client server communications
developed independent of the modern windows operating system, providing
otherwise impossible speed and responsiveness.
o
Several
years of repair and maintenance of mini and mainframe computers made by Gould,
early Perkin – Elmer, Quindar , QEI systems, and back to some of the earliest
Supervisory systems such as GE-TAC
o
Several
years performing acceptance testing of electronic safety devices used by field
personnel. Performed OSHA specified environmental and sound level testing
within generating stations.
o
Network
troubleshooting; including the use of specialized tools such as time domain
reflectometers. Also had some training configuring and setting up Cisco
Routers.
Education
I
hold only an Associate degree (A.A.S.) in Electronics, from Staten Island
College in 1974. Obviously most of my skills are self taught, the result of
myriads of electronic and software training courses offered through employers
combined with relentless personal interest in the technology. As an example, I
pioneered real time digital signal processing on a 16 bit ATARI computer with
hardware add-ons of my own making, way back in the 80s. This personal zeal was
further enhanced by the unlimited resources available via the Internet,
starting with shell accounts in the late 80s .
Personal.
I am very spiritual in my views of life and a believer in
God, though not very religious. I am happily married to my wife Dorothy. I am
also a musician, songwriter and freelance entertainer, and enjoy bringing both
laughter and encouragement to those with whom I am privileged to find audience.
I consider integrity, reliability, cooperation, and fairness to be important to
every endeavor of my life. I also operate a sole proprietorship called Elfin Technologies, largely a hobby, and as a vehicle for developing,
presenting and/or marketing my own innovations. Some of these relate to home
automation and others are associated with musical instrument technology.